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Where does true intelligence reside?
This week, on 14 September 2022, the ARS academy organised the Power Couple Human & Machine conference in the beautiful setting of the House of Engineers.
The event focused on artificial intelligence and the interplay between HR and law.
„The association with AI often triggers negative future scenarios in which only either the machine or the human being has the upper hand.“ (Quote from the ARS Academy conference description)
The conference was opened by Bettina Kerschbaumer, moderator, and Richard Melbinger, Managing Director of ARS & ETC, who presented the follwoing motto: It doesn’t have to be either/or; humans and machines must work together to be successful.
7 success factors for using AI successfully
We repeatedly go through times of crisis, change and innovation. What do people do then? Exactly, they cling to old habits. People only like innovations when they are their own ideas and not someone else‘s. Then it is a „change“ as presented Prof. Dr. Pero Micic. He believes that companies must have 7 success factors in place for AI to be implemented sustainably:
sustainably improving quality of life
working on a feasible opportunity for the future
customers who buy at profitable prices
employees joining, staying and being engaged
productivity at the top of the industry- competitors finding it difficult to replicate
protecting against disruption
employees as shareholders who are happy to be involved in the company
Teaching digital skills
According to Angelika Riedl from the Know-Center, it is important to understand fundamentals of AI before even tackling the topic or hiring new employees. First understand the problems and then analyse the available data. Only then can a decision be made as to whether AI makes is appropriate.
The legal aspects of AI and data protection
Data protection in connection with AI is essential as explained by Dr Axel Anderl and Mag. Alexandra Ciarnau of DORDA Rechtsanwälte. According to Dr. Anderl, AI is not as advanced as Hollywood would have us believe. Secure data processing must be guaranteed. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of groundbreaking measures, such as those dealing with wrong decisions, fairness, transparency, etc. More guidance is awaited in this area, hopefully in the next few months/years: the keyword here is the AI Act.
Recruitment in the age of AI
These days, recruitment is a supreme discipline these days, and Rudi Bauer, MD WeAreDevelopers, has aptly summarised what it takes to attract highly qualified employees, especially IT staff, to a company. In the past, basic factors such as salary, accommodation and job security were enough. Today, however, it’s all about self-fulfilment, team spirit and purpose. Traditional job advertisements are no longer enough to recruit successfully; it’s all about community management is key – how do I reach my target group, where are they active and how do I address them? AI can be very helpful in assisting with pre-selection and identifying the most effective channels.
Example
If my target group is Gen Z, for a specific role such as data scientist, then advertising on the usual platforms is not enough. An "IT specialist" is not looking for a job; they want to be found and approached accordingly. May advice is to use AI can to help with the recruitment process, but remember that is's just an algorithm and some candidates will inevitably be overlooked. That's why combining human and machine is so important. ##TargetTalent
AI in practice
Herbert Lohninger, CIO at the University of Salzburg, shares some practical examples of where AI is already being used effectively. These include Deepl, which is used as a translation aid and MS Teams, which automatically generates subtitles. These are all tools that support us in our everyday lives. However, he also predicts that jobs will be lost, e.g. taxi drivers with the advent of. autonomous driving. However, many new jobs will also be created that require different skills. It is up to companies to train their employees rather than replace them.
Humans and machines – relationship status: „it’s complicated“
At the end of the day, Dr Irina Nalis-Neuner, researcher, strategist and NPO chairwoman gave a lecture on digital humanism. She believes that the relationship between humans and machines is „complicated“. In order to minimise risks und fears, relationship work is needed and roles must be in be precisely defined. Of course, there are also new opportunities, but everything in harmony with human values and needs rather than technology shaping people. Above all, young people need training to understand what is at stake. The motto here is to program rather than be programmed.
My conclusion
In summary, it was an immensely exciting and inspiring conference featuring keynote speakers and contributions on the topic of AI and its future impact on the world of work. From today’s perspective, it is still impossible to imagine the full extent of this impact. One thing is certain, however, human resources and managers will need to support change processes related to AI in considered and sustainable way. Exciting times lies ahead.
I left with me the message that we must up to date and accept AI is here to stay. There is no way around it.
„The art of progress is to maintain order in the midst of change, and to maintain change in the midst of order.“ (Alfred North Whitehead)
